Travelling in Tense Times

Australia’s relationship with Indonesia is under stress, with the Indonesian government halting all cooperation over defence and asylum seeker issues. The tensions come after revelations Canberra tapped into the phones of high-profile Indonesian officials in 2009, including the president and his wife. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announced on Wednesday he would cease cooperation until Australian P-M Tony Abbott makes a genuine apology. Mr Abbott initially stated in parliament, that all governments keep their eye on other governments, which ignited, rather than calmed, Indonesia’s anger. In the meantime, how is this affecting travellers and their plans to visit the neighbouring country? Emma Watson spoke to Hestia Soo, a Melbourne store manager at STA Travel, to find out whether Australians are deterred from travelling to Indonesia. It seems our interest in visiting the holiday destination has not been affected, with two Melbourne students departing for the country shortly.